Google just announced a new WiFi router that's made to blanket your home with internet

Google on Tuesday unveiled Google WiFi, a new WiFi router that
takes after aspects of recent “mesh” networking routers like the Eero.

It'll be available for pre-order in November, and will ship in
December. One router will go for $129, while a three-pack will
cost $299.

Details of the router were first reported by Android Police last month.

Like the eero and Google’s own OnHub before it, Google WiFi
puts some emphasis on looks. It’s a small white cylinder, a
bit more cleanly designed than your usual antenna-laden
internet box. The idea is to make you more comfortable
displaying it in an open area, which will in turn bolster
your connection strength.

Also like the eero, Google WiFi’s
headline feature is its ability to connect to other access
points and create a sort of “mesh” network,
expanding your connection to hard-to-reach areas of your
home. As with the similar routers that preceded it,
this'll naturally work better in larger homes that are more
prone to dead spots.

To help with that, Google
says WiFi will also utilize a feature called "Network
Assist," which automatically transition a device to the
strongest WiFi point and channel in your setup, depending on
where you are at that point.

The Google WiFi's companion app.YouTube

The router is managed through a smartphone app, which allows you
to, among other things, see the various devices that are
connected to your network and selectively pause each one's
access.

We've seen features like
these in the routers Google WiFi is going after, but they have
their usefulness nonetheless.

One thing to note here is that, clearly, this is not
an OnHub device. Google pitched the WiFi as building on
whatthe company has learned
through that partner program, but didn't announce any new
hardware for that family of routers. It also didn't announce any
updates to the OnHub machines that are already on the
market.

The device itself is a
dual-band AC1200 router, which puts it closer to the
entry-level side of the market in terms of maximum power.
(It also supports Bluetooth low
energy.) That could make it a bit trickier to keep high
speeds while extending that connection around the house, but
we'll reserve judgments until we're able to test the device in
the coming months. If nothing else, it'll be one of the more
affordable options in the growing "modular" router
market.